Valve-testing machine.



W. H. McKENZIE'.

VALVE TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT. 10. ms.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- -vivenfoz w. H. McKENZlE.

VALVE TESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.10. 1918.

1,298,236., A Patented Mar. 25,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

72! .v 10 I 4 I I w. H. McKENZIE.

VALVE TESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILE-D OCT. 10 1918.

Patented Mar. 25,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v Mommas 45 ably mount the-operating parts upon a truck 'JW'ILLIAM n. mxmm, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE-TESTING months. I

To all whom it rriaiy concern: i

Beit known that IQWILLIAM H. MCK NZIE,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of'Alameda and State of California, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inValve-Testing Ma-'-' chines, of which'the following is a specification.

. ':This invention seeks to provide a simple, eificient and easily operated apparatus whereby valves .for water mains or similar conduits and elbow fittings for use in connection with said conduits" may befreadily tested for leakage. The invention seeksto' provide a machine inwhich the valve casing or the elbow fitting may be quickly secured.

in position to be tested without imposing manual strain upon the operator and'the invention also seeks to improve generally the: construction, arrangement and operation of e the parts of a machine for the stated purpose. p I An embodiment of the invention is lllus trated in the -.-a'ccompanying drawings,

v Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'an apparatus 1 I constructed in accordance with the 1nveu-.

.tion; a Fig. l is a detail view of the upper end of the crane appearing in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 2 is a. view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section;-

Fig. 3 is a plan v1ew,'partly broken awayof the. clamping plates-employedforsecuring a valve body in position to'be tested; Fig. 4' is a view partlyin endelevation 'andlpartly'in transverse section, the plane of the section beingindicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plate shown in Fig. 5.

in Tn carrying out my invention, 'I prefer- 1' so that the apparatus may be'readily transnism may, 0

somemstancesa statlonary apparatus may r bepreferable. In the illustrated embodi-.

with which the same is to be used; It should ported from place to place but the mechacourse, be stationaryand' in ment of the invention,- a reservoir 2 is secured below the platform 3 of the truck and may be of any dimensions according. to the size of the particular machine in connection Specification of Letters Patent.

, detailsectionalview showing fthe'manner of securing an elbow fitting inposition to be tested; a Fig. 6- 's aplan view of the upper clamp,-v

i in all instances be large enough to contain a supply. of water suflicientto operate the hftmg piston and to fill the fitting'to be- .tested. When the apparatus is stationary, the tank maybe omitted and the operating a Water supply maiIn t; is to be understood that other minor changes may be made in the apparatus without involvinga departure fromthe invention as j the sameis defined in the claims appendedhereto,a1' 1d the invention is not limited to the particular detailslillustratedin the ac 'companyin'g drawings and specifically nienparts connected wit or other source of fiuld under pressure.

tioned' in'the following description.

' In the arrangement, illustrated, a pump 4 is,mounted upon the'plat form at one'end' thereof and the inlet end' of said pump isconnected by .a pipe 5 with the reservoir '75 ortank {2 so that upon operation of the pump, which maybe ofany well-known ftype, water 'will 'be drawn from the pump and driven through the outlet pipe '6-to the lifting piston and to, the fitting to be tested. At the opposite end of the platform. is.-

mounted a cylinderE- 7 to which. water-is supplied through a pipe 8 leading into the lower end of the cylinder. This pipe 8. is

connected by a T-co'upling 9 to atransverse 5 pipe 10 which at one end leads into the reservoir ortank 2 and at its otherend is con-f nected by a 'T'-coupl ing 11 with the' o'utlet pipe '6 from the pump and a branch pipe 12 "which extends across the platform and carries a pressure gage 13., The pipe 10 is m vided with 'a cut-off valve 14 between the pipe 8 andthe tank and with a similar cut off valve'15 betweenthe said pipe-8 and the coupling 11. The pipe 12 beyond the pressure gage 'cent side ofthe. platform and is equipped with a cut-ofl valve 16 beyond which itiS 13 and the adjae carried longitudinally or parallel with the platform, as shown at 17, to a point ap- 1 00 proximately in. the transverse plane of the? cylinder 7 where itis equipped with one member 18 of aswivel or-turning joint, the other member 19"of said joint being; secured hlch at its 108 upon .the' end of a-pipe 20 w opposite end' carries one member 21 of a slmilar swivel joint. The cooperatin mem-- ber- 22 of the last-mentioned swive joint is carried bythe lower end of a pipe 23'. to which; at its upper end, is secured one 110,

member 24 of a third swivel joint, the co.-

operat-ing member% of which is secured I -Patented Mar-.'25,1 919.. Appiicationiiled'mtober10,1318. -Seria1I Ie .57,605.

extenis laterally 5 stem the outer end of a pipe 26 "which I. leadstothe, head plate 27 uponwhich the itting to be tested", is supported. The sa d i a head plate is provided with a'bore28 which communicates directly. withthepipe 26 and at its inner end isturned upwardly, asshown Tat 29, toopen through the upper surface of .th'e head plateat the center of the same.

' Intermediate the. swivel-joint 'member 1 0" and the head plate,. a T-coupling'30 is interosedin the pipe 26 and connected with said- -couplin is a drain pipe 31 which extendsdownwar ly past the platform and dis charges into the tank 2, the said dra n p pe 15. being J provided intermediate its he ght at any-convenient point with a cut-off valve 32. Thelread plate is mounted; upon the upper "end of a piston rod 33 whichextends slid- -a;bly through'a gland'34 on the head of the 2 0 cylinder7 and has its lower end secured in:

3 a piston or plunger 35 which is mounted e within the cylinder 7,' as clearly shdwndn' Fig. 4'. The head'plate is connected with accommodate possible variationsin the finish of the fitting to be tested so that under all circumstances a water-tight joint will be-efl'ected between the-head plate and the fitting.- It wil-lbe understood that the pipe 26 follows the vertical movement of the head plate and the swivel joints shown and,

' thereon. Communicating with 'the'upperfendof d scribed are provided to attain the req'uisite flexibility in the connectlon between the pipe's 17 and 26', andto accommodate the consequent movement of the pipe 31 relative to the tank,r a hose 3'? is utilized to establish communication between the said pipe and -.thetank.. I

" Posts- 38 are erected u'pon 'th'e platform in concentric spaced relation to the cylinder 7 and the outermost of these posts, or those postsnearest the side edges of the' platform,

T are provided with reduced threaded extensions 39.

50.11 011 the up er en s of these posts and are a apted to t over the lower end flange of the fitting so that said flange will'be clamped between the said plates and the head plate Y .27. In Figs. 1 and '4, a valve 41 is illus trated in position to be tested and the lower flange. of this valve" is indicated at'42. It. will be noted that the flange rests directly e upon the head plate and its upper surface.

bears directly against the under surfaces. of the clamping plates which fit close to the body portion of the valve. By referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the clampin plates are substantially semi-circular in p an viewand are provided 15 at the centers of their straight edges with 'pered surface of the valve body. One of these plates is provided with a recess 45 in -its upper surface to accommodate the flange '46 of the lateral branch of'the valve and an escape for the air trapped within the fitting thereby'provided. At diametricall'y I opposite points of the clamping-plates, rings .54 or other convenient form ofhandles are This main pipe 56 is equipped-with cut-01f .valves 57 and 58 at 'opposlte, sides of the nozzle or fitting 59 to facilitate the coupling Glampin plates 40 are supported 1 same therefrom, I mount a crane 60 upon v-fneansT The particular construction of the crane and the. particular constructlon of. the

semi-circular notches 43 whi ch are adapted to fltaround. the body of the, valve casing,

" the .edge's'of these notches being beveled, as I shown at 44, soas' to accommodate the taboth plates. are provided in'their inner edges with the open-endedslots or notches 47 i which permltthe plates to be slid across the .upper ends of ,the posts 38 past the threadedextensions 39. One clamping plate 40is provided at its inner'edge, with dowel pins 48 adapted to engageniating recesses 49 in the corresponding edge of the other clamping plate so as to insure the propercoaction of thelplates. v I

When an elbow fitting is' t'o be tested, the clamping plates 40are not employed and 5 extension rods I 50 are fitted upon' the threaded extensions 39, of the posts 38, a clamping plate 51-being secured upon'the;

. upperends of these extension rods inany I 'desired'manner, as by nuts .52 secured upon 0 the ,rods above-and below the plates, as

illustrated in Fig: -5. This clamp ng plate 51 is' 'equipped at its center witha valve controlled vent 53 so that, when the fitting isin position, the valve maybe opened and provided so that the plate may be. readily lifted from-the extension rods or mounted the cylinder? isan air pipe 55 leading from a main supply pipe 56 mounted .in any convenient manner -upon the platform,"

pipe 55 and at oneend is-equippedwitha thereto of a hose leading from any con-. fvenient source of compressed air supgly.

To facilitate. the placing of the ttingupon the head plate and the removal of the tackle mechanism, indicated at 61, at its upper end, said] block and 'tackle being operated by a crank 62 or other convenient nism will be readily understood. 'When' a valve is to be tested, the valve body is placed in position upon the head plate 27 wlth' the 1 I .inlet opening of the valve concentric with;

7 thee lid 29 offthe bore 28inthe said head plate, the head plate beingthen 'in'its lowest position; In this position ofthe'parts, the valve 58 will be closed and the valve 57 open. The valves 14, '16 and 32 will also be "closed and the-valve will'be opened.

After the valve has been properly posi tioned upon the head plate, the pump 4 W111 "be operated to draw water from the reservoir and this water will flow through the to lift the same, this lifting movement transmitted through the rod 33 to the head plate and the valve body 41- so that the said valve, body will be brought to the testing position; When the head plate has reached the upper limit j of 1 and clamping pl'ates',the valves may again itsmovement the valve 15 is closed soas to maintain'the pressure in thecylinder 7. "The clamping plates 7 inwardly so that their inner edges will meet "around the 'valve body and over the flange 42 of the same. and if the flange should not .be firmlysecured between the head platesbe, opened and the pump operated so as to tional distance sufficient to. secure the valve body against movement .after- Which, of course,

the; valve 15 will be again closed.

' The valve 16 will .then'be opened and the pump I 7 through the pipes 17,20, '23xan'd' 26 into thehead plate and through thebore of the I same into the interior of the valve body 4:1,

again operated so as .to force water it being'understood, of course, that theout- -let of the valve or the outlet of the elbow 1 testing operation begmsz The gage 13 indicates the pressure inginto the fitting is Sllbj'eCtei];

fitting,in case an elbow fitting. is being tested, will be effectually sealed before the to which the water fiowaction of thepump 4 so that if e fitting should. develop a crack or other form of leakfit may be readily noted what pressure the fitting will sustain without serious leakage and if noleakage is dis- ,.cove'red upto the capacity of the'gage it may enerally be rated as a perfect fitting.

The machine built by me has a; capacity of one thousand pounds pressure which is at least'equal to the pressure to whichfany" ordinary fitting is normallv subjected. The fitting may be connected during the entire time it is in position upon the apparatus with the crane 60 and the clamping plates 40, of course, moved into position around the fittingbefore the head plateis raised so that It is not necessary to disconnect the fitting from the crane to conduct'the testingoperation and then again connect the fitting with the crane after being tested in order that 'it may be removed. The test being completed, the valve 15 is closed and the fitting,

40 are then pushed and the head 1 order to secure the fittin position and a large num er of fittings or is claimed asnew is:

by thetosu pent a fitting to valve 32 opened so that. the Water Within the fitting may drain bacK into the tank.

After the water has been drained from the the valve 14 is opened to permit the water in the cylinder to drain back into the tank and the descent of the piston and the head plate will be facilitated by: closing the valve 57 and opening the valve 58 whereupon air under pressure will be admitted to the top of the cylinder above the piston 35' and act on the piston to lower the same.

An elbow fitting or other form of coupling is tested In the same manner as a valve is" tested except that the clamping plates 40 are not used and the'plate 51 is substituted,sthe sa1dplate-51 serving as a closure for. the

upper end of the "fitting. as will be readily understood upon reference to Fig.5, and the pressure exerted upon the head plate and through the head plate upon the fitting should be sufficient to'efi'eot a water-tight engagement between the ends of the fittings plate and clamping plate 51,

respectively. fter thefitting has been se cured in place, thevalve 53 is opened so that as the water entersthe fitting thetrapped air may readily escape. raise thepiston and the head plate an addi- My improved apparatus isvery compact, is'siniply constructed and is strong and durable. -In using the same, it isnot necessary to manipulate'a large number of bolts in to be tested in valves may be consequently thoroughly tested in a very short-period of time.

4 Having thus described my invention, what -1. In an. apparatus for the purpose set forth, the" combination of a head plate adaptbe tested, means 'ed to support a fitting to for raising and lowering said plate and maintaining the plate in its elevated posi tion, and flexi le means for-conveying fluid under pressure through the headplate to the forth, the com means or raising said 2. In an apparatus for the purpose set ing it in an elevated posltion, and extensible means for-supplying liquid under pressure through said head therefrom,"

3. Ih aJl a aratus for the plate to the fitting and withdrawing said liquid purpose set.

izo

forth, the com mation ofia head p'late ada ted to support a fittingto be tested, a cylin er disposed below said-i' plate, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rising from the piston through the head of the cylinder and removably coupled' 'tothe under side of the head plate, means .for admitting fluid pres-- sure to thecylinder 'below the piston and .withdrawing said fluid therefrom, and ex-' tensible means for supplying liquid under within the cylinder, means for admitting liquid under'pressure to the cylinder below the piston, api'ston rod rising from the piston and carrying the head plate, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the cylin- ,der'above the iston, andextensible means for admitting hquid under pressure through the head plate to the fitting-to be tested.

' 5. In an apparatus fOr'. the purpose set forth,-the combination of a head. plate adapted to. support a fitting to be tested and constructed with a radialbore opening atone end through the edge of the plate and at lbs I 0 posite end through the. upper slde of the p ate at the center of the same, hydraulic means for raising the head plate and holding'it in a raised position, a pipe communieating with the outer end of the bore in the head plate, a drain pipe leading front said first-mentioned pipe, a series of pipes haying swiveled connection with each other and ."with saidjfirst-mentioned pipe, and means for forcing liquidflunder pressurethro'ugh said pipes to the bore of the head plate and.

'thro said bore tothe fitting;

6.- In. an apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, a head plate supported from said piston and provi f the head plate.

' means forsu'pplying liquidunder edwith a radial bore o ningthrough thetop of the plate and the e go of the same, respectively, a pump, valved connections between the pump and the lower end of the cylinder, and valved connections between the 7'. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, 'the' combination of a plurality of posts,- clamping platesmounted upon said pump and the bore posts,-and provided in their opposed edges with notches to engage around a fitti'ng,a head plate adapted to support the fitting,

hydraulic means for-raising-said head plateto'secure' the fitting against the clamping plates, and meansffoi; supplying liquid under pressure. through said head. plate to the fitting.

8. In an apparatus for the, purpose set forth, the combination'of a plurality of posts having reduced extensions at their up .per ends, clamping plates mounted upon the" upper ends of the posts and slidable across the same and provided. with notches in their meeting edges to accommodate said extensions,'said clamping plates being providedat the centers .of their inner-edges with notches to engage around the body. of a fitting, a head plate adapted to bear againstthe lower endofthe fitting,'means for foreing. the head plate against thefitting, and

pressure through the head plate to the fitting. I

In testimony whereof I aiiix iny'signature.

WILLIAM H. MCKENZIE. [1 s1] 

